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Dianne and Tom Honig chaired Western Fantasy.

Saturday night’s “Round-Up at the VOA Ranch” had plenty of cowpokes in boots and jeans; however, instead of ropin’ and ridin’ they were alighting from stretch Hummer limousines and putting one Lucchese in front of the other on the red carpet entry to the National Western Events Center where a filet of beef dinner and entertainment by Sara Evans awaited.

Western Fantasy 18: Round-Up at the VOA Ranch, chaired by Wells Fargo Bank’s regional president, Tom Honig, and his wife, Dianne, continued a rich tradition started when Sharon Magness Blake and Jean Galloway cooked up an idea for a fundraiser unlike any other for Volunteers of America.

It raises about $1 million — some years more, some years less — for the 30 human service programs operated statewide by VOA-Colorado. Programs like Meals-on-Wheels, the Brandon Center and Theodora House shelters, and the Foster Grandparent Program.

The evening’s dress code is dressy Western, and interpretations range from prairie skirts to leather and lace. Turquoise and silver are seen on bracelets, necklaces, rings, earrings, bolo ties and belts. Hats are optional; Stetsons and Resistols seem to be the most popular brands.

The down-home feel to this year’s Western Fantasy was established in the Events Center lobby, where the focal point was a 24-foot-wide mural of a cattle round-up. The arena floor, where the 1,000 guests gathered for cocktails, dinner and the show, had a Wells Fargo stagecoach parked to one side. It made for a perfect spot for the Honigs to perch when they delivered their welcoming remarks.

In keeping with tradition, the event opened with Sharon Magness Blake presenting the colors while riding her horse, Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos, around the area to strains of Lee Greenwood’s signature “God Bless the USA.” Greenwood is frequently at Western Fantasy to sing the song in person; he was unable to make it this year, so a recording was used.

A big surprise came when the live auction kicked off — literally — with a rousing number featuring caller Rick Rolf and several very limber dancers. It must have inspired the crowd because the seven items up for bid brought in a two-year high of $97,000.

The Bucket List — a package that includes two premium tickets and Southwest Airlines flights to the bidder’s choice of four top events, including the Kentucky Derby, the Daytona 500, the Rose Bowl and the Major League Baseball All Star Game — fetched the highest bid, $28,000 from David Copeland, senior vice president and general counsel for SM Energy. Copeland and his date, Rollie Jordan, were guests at a table hosted by Shereen and Michael Pollak, whose Hyde Park Jewelers sponsored the pre-dinner Hyde Park Saloon where guests could purchase shot glasses that may or may not contain a piece of jewelry.

Perhaps the luckiest shot glass buyer were the three members of the Harry Gorham family. Each of them bought a shot glass and each of them struck the jackpot.

Others at the Pollak table were Larry Mizel and Bogi and Solla Palsson. The Palssons recently moved from Iceland to Bachelor Gulch.

Gov. John Hickenlooper was a guest at Sharon and Ernie Blake’s table; Mayor Michael Hancock and his wife, Mary Louise Lee, were seated nearby, with a group that included City Attorney Doug Friednash; David Palmer from Greenberg Traurig and Bill and Verna Pauls.

Sharon Magness Blake joined Bob Bardwell, chair of the VOA-Colorado board, in presenting the Humanitarian Award to John and Anna Sie. John Sie is considered the father of digital television and in 1991 founded Starz Entertainment Group. It is now owned by Liberty Media and is the parent to such premium movie networks as Starz and Encore. They started the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and are benefactors to such organizations as the University of Denver, the Cable Center, Denver Art Museum, Denver School of Science and Technology and the Mizel Museum.

Julie Zorrilla, a semi-finalist on "American Idol," to entertain at Clinica Tepeyac fundraiser.

American Idol semi-finalist Julie Zorrilla will perform at Clínica Tepeyac’s 2011 Fiesta, “A Celebration of Culture and Life!” A native of Colombia, Zorilla grew up in Denver and is a longtime patient of Clínica Tepeyac, a safety-net clinic and model for providing health education, prevention, and primary medical services to underserved patients.

“I’ve been going to Clínica Tepeyac since I was a little girl,” Zorrilla says. “I am honored to perform at Fiesta 2011 and support an organization that has helped me throughout the years and cares so deeply for Denver’s Latino community.”

Fiesta 2011 begins at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Police Protective Association (PPA) Event Center, 2105 Decatur St., near Sports Authority Field at Mile High. In addition to Zorrilla’s performance, there will be Flamenco dancing, live and silent auctions and a buffet dinner. Awards to be given that night include Volunteer of the Year, Dr. Robert Williams; Community Partner of the Year, the Health Center at Auraria; and Health Advocate of the Year, Dr. Chris Urbina, executive director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

The 17-year-old Clínica Tepeyac works with other public health agencies and medical providers in the Denver metro area to ensure its patients have access to specialists and programs that assist low-income families. This year, Clínica Tepeyac is projected to provide more then 15,000 patient visits.

* At 6 p.m. today, there is a cocktail party at MAX, a boutique at 264 Detroit St. in Cherry Creek North, to raise money for the Project Angel Heart capital campaign. The get-together is co-sponsored by TOWN; hosts are Joyce Pashel, Max Martinez, Scott Seale, Mikhail Dantes, Eddy Doumas and Ron Dantes. The $40 donation includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, deejay music and informal modeling. Call 303-373-6940.

* On Saturday, MaxFund, a non-profit no-kill animal shelter and adoption center, is having its 23rd annual black-tie fundraiser, Puttin’ on the Max: We Are Colorado, at the Brown Palace Hotel. The 5:30 p.m. event is one of MaxFund’s largest fundraisers; 300 guests are expected. There will be cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, appearances by the Denver Nuggets Dance Team, music by Absolute DJ, and a pet parade. 7News meterologist Mike Nelson will emcee. Tickets (call 720-266-6081) are $100 each, $175 for couples $175 or $900 per table. Sponsors include Prudent Man Investment Group, 1stBank and Liberty Media.

* Also on Saturday, Sara Evans headlines Western Fantasy, a dinner and auction that also honors John and Anna Sie as Humanitarians of the Year. Tom and Dianne Honig chair this benefit for Volunteers of America; festivities begin at 5:45 p.m. at the National Western Events Center. Call Michael James, 720-264-3322.

* Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver is having its Luminocity Gala at Union Station on Oct. 27; Bart Spaulding is the chairman. Billed as a “sparkling evening,” the festivities will include silent and live auctions, followed by dinner from Three Tomatoes. Gov. John Hickenlooper and and his wife, museum trustee Helen Thorpe, are the honorary chairs, along with Mayor Michael Hancock and his wife, Mary Louise Lee. The host committee includes Ellen Bruss and Mark Falcone, Mardi and Brown Cannon, Ellie Caulkins, Philae Dominick, David and Laura Merage, Tina Walls and museum founder Sue Cannon. Sign up at mcadenver.org.

Sara Evans, headliner for the Oct. 22 Western Fantasy, is one of the hottest names in country music. Remember the name Richie Law, though; those who heard him sing at the Western Fantasy patron party are convinced he’ll be back to take the main stage in the not-too-distant future.

A graduate of Grandview High School, the 19-year-old Law is attending Nebraska Wesleyan University on an opera scholarship and bears an uncanny resemblance to a young Dwight Yoakum. He’s the 2010 American Country Star World Champion, the winner of the Country Strong Singing Challenge, has cut a demo in Nashville and has auditioned for one of the biggest TV talent competitions. We can’t say which one it is, or whether he passed muster, but it’s a biggie, and even if he doesn’t win, it’s bound to launch a very successful career.

“When he was doing sound check this afternoon, activity on our first floor came to a halt,” said Christel Dikeman, vice president/general manager of Neiman Marcus Cherry Creek. “People were captivated by his voice.” Neiman Marcus has hosted the patron party every year since Jean Galloway and Sharon Magness Blake started Western Fantasy in 1994.

Dianne and Tom Honig are chairing the 2011 edition. It’s a benefit for Volunteers of America and will bring over 1,000 people to the National Western Events Center for a night that also includes dinner; taking a “shot” at winning one (or more) of the $35,000 in donated baubles by purchasing a jigger in the Hyde Park Saloon; and presentation of VOA’s Humanitarian Award to Anna and John J. Sie.

Brothers Redevelopment, a nonprofit organization perhaps best known for mobilizing thousands of volunteers for a yearly Paint-A-Thon for low-income seniors, is celebrating its 40th anniversary by having Josh Blue, the Season 4 winner of “Last Comic Standing,” headline an Oct. 6 dinner at the Denver Merchandise Mart.

Brothers Redevelopment serves 4,000-plus clients a year by assisting elderly and disabled homeowners with home maintenance and repair; overseeing the Colorado Foreclosure Hotline; providing housing for 575 elderly and disabled tennants at 12 independent living centers throughout the metro Denver area; and offering pre-purchase, reverse mortgage and default counseling.

The “Opening Doors” theme continues with the auction of doors that have been signed by members of the Colorado Avalanche, comics that have appeared at Comedy Works and others.

Murphy Huston and Denise Plante, co-hosts of KOSI’s morning show, are emcees for the $65-a-ticket event that begins at 5:30 p.m. FirstBank, Pillar Property Services, the Niesen-Borth Agency, PCL Construction and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority are among the sponsors.

The ASCENT Foundation is having its seventh annual UrbanCowboy event on Oct. 8. It starts at 7:30 p.m. at Casselman’s Bar & Venue and is a benefit for Sewall Child Development Center.

The goal is to have 450 guests, who will enjoy such activities as:

· Music by Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams and The Ghost of Joseph Buck

· Rides on a mechanical bull

· A cow milking station

· An arm-wrestling station

· A buffet dinner

· Coors beer station, cocktails and wine; and

· A silent auction, with items ranging in value from $50 to $500-plus

The ASCENT (A Socially Conscious Entity) Foundation is a Denver-based nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and money for small charitable organizations. Its mission is to increase the philanthropic activity of the 25- to 40-year-old demographic. It is governed by an 11-member board and has about 30 volunteers.

Wayne Keith founded ASCENT in 2002 and says it has raised $235,000 for Denver-area non-profit organizations since that time.

ASCENT fundraisers benefit a different organization each year, with the recipient chosen after the board reviews proposals submitted for their consideration.

Louis Gossett, Jr., whose Academy Award for best supporting actor in the 1982 film “An Officer and a Gentleman” ended a 19-year drought for African-American actors, will be in Denver on Saturday to be honored at a fundraising gala put on by The Spirituals Project.

Gossett will receive the second annual Jericho Award at the Red Gala, a cocktail party and dinner that begins at 6 p.m. at the Marriott City Center. The award, says Amani Ali, executive director of The Spirituals Project, “Honors the memory of enslaved Africans and those who spoke out — and continue to speak out — against racial injustice.”

The Spirituals Project, based at the University of Denver, is dedicated to preserving and promoting spirituals, the religious folk songs created and first sung by African-Americans in slavery. Some of the better-known titles are “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Wade in the Water” and “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.”

Gossett made his professional acting debut when he was 17, appearing in “Take a Giant Step.” His performance caught the attention of critics and audiences alike and earned him the Donaldson Award for best newcomer to the theater.

His career blossomed after that, and in addition to the Oscar, he has also received two Emmys and two Golden Globes. Gossett also is the author of “An Actor and a Gentleman,” and he will autograph copies of it at the gala.

Outside of acting, Gossett is involved with the Eracism Foundation, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the National World War I Museum in Kansas City.

The inaugural Red Gala, held in September 2010, honored Harry Belafonte.

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A frosty margarita is the drink du jour at Salt on the Rim.

At first blush, a school cafeteria sounds like the last place a well-known nonprofit would want to hold one of its most popular fundraisers. Then again, few school cafeterias are as snazzy as Kent Denver School’s Dining Hall.

The $4.5 million, 20,000-square-foot building with bamboo floors and a “living wall” upon which herbs used in meals prepared for the Kent student body are grown, is the first LEED Platinum structure of its type in the United States. LEED Platinum is the highest level of recognition given for energy, efficiency, sustainability and design by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Salt on the Rim began as a summer garden party held in the back yard of Walt and the late Georgia Imhoff, two of Kempe’s most dedicated supporters. It has enjoyed a steady growth; in 2010 it was held in a giant tent set up on the grounds of the Mike Shanahan estate in Cherry Hills Village.

Guests know they can count on value for their money. The evening includes food tasting stations, unlimited beverages and live music for dancing. This year’s samplings were provided by 17 vendors, including Mezcal, Chinook Tavern, Kona Grill, the Saucy Noodle, Lifestyles Catering, Piatti and Pinkberry. Lime: An American Cantina, in cooperation with Sauza Tequila, offered the event’s signature drink, the margarita.

The evening’s gross income — $40,500 — came from tickets sold to the 300-plus in attendance, sponsorships and a pinata auction. The money goes to the Kempe Center for its work on behalf of children who are abused or neglected.

Co-chairs John Farnam, Paul Heitzenrater, Lawrence French and Gregory Sargowicki were especially pleased that the Kempe Center’s new director, Dr. Des Runyan, who has only been on the job since the first of the month, was among the attendees. Another special guest was Pat Peterson, the Kempe Foundation’s new president and chief executive officer.

Jack and Adrienne Ruston Fitzgibbons, who are chairing the Kempe Center’s spring gala, Kempe Takes Tokyo, were there, too, along with Andy Boian, chair of the Kempe Center board; Sandee Walling, a co-president (with Farnam and Heitzenrater) of the Kempe Foundation Alliance; banker Jay Davidson and his wife, Kristina; stockbroker Paul Esserman; attorney Craig Fleishman and his wife, Layne; Dana and John Berry; attorney Franklin Azar and his wife, Jeanette; Louise Richardson; Dianne and Dr. Max Bartlett; Virginia Bray; Ron and Miriam Abreu; Dale and Karen Flowers; Marsha Temple; Keri Christiansen, Linda Goto and Lynn Bronikowski from The Denver Hospice; and Al and Terri Fisher. Her 5 S/tar Talent and Entertainment sponsored the band Soul School, which played throughout the night.

“Joy to the World!” Three Dog Night, the group that made that song famous, is going to headline Saturday Night Alive 2012. Event chairs Ryta and Steve Sondergard made the announcement last night at a cocktail reception held in the MillerCoors Brewing Co. Tap Room in downtown Denver.

The Tap Room is located on the building’s 32nd floor; coincidentally, 2012 will mark SNA’s 32nd year.

MolsonCoors’ president and chief executive officer, Peter Swinburn, and his wife, Janet, are heading the corporate committee for the March 3 event that is expected to raise at least $650,000 for Arts in Education, an initiative of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts that reaches some 50,000 school children throughout the state each year.

SNA begins with a 6 p.m. reception in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a computerized silent auction and Surprise Box sale is followed by dinner, catered by Epicurean, in the Seawell Grand Ballroom. After dinner, guests proceed to The Stage theatre for the show. The evening ends with desserts and dancing in the ballroom.

Tickets start at $375 and can be purchased by calling 303-446-4812 or visiting dcpa.org

Sondergard, who has also had leadership positions with the Kempe Foundation Alliance, The Gathering Place and Colorado UpLIFT Guild, shared that her husband may be a long-distance co-chair as he is negotiating a move to Switzerland.

“Yep, just like 10 years ago when we were chairing galas for The Gathering Place and UpLIFT and he moved us to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Caracas, Venezuela. I had to fly back and forth to meetings, and then we both flew back for the events.”

The Sondergards recently launched Manchester Energy, Inc., an oil and gas property in Wyoming. “Things are going quite well … literally,” Ryta says. “Fortunately we have an exceptional board of directors who have the expertise to run the company, so there is no concern about it (with relation to their pending move to Switzerland) but like the saying goes: behind every great man is a really busy spouse tying up the lose ends!”

Three Dog Night was formed in 1968 and the band’s hits continue to be heard today on the radio, on television commercials and motion picture soundtracks. In addition to “Joy to the World,” they include “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Black and White,” “Shambala” and “One.”

Founding members Cory Wells and Danny Hutton remain on lead vocals, and are joined by original keyboardist Jimmy Greenspoon and guitarist Michael Allsup. Paul Kingery (bass and vocals) and Pat Bautz (drums) complete the lineup.

Millacynt Boldin is the daughter of Linda Boldin and a graduate of George Washington High School. Millacynt was crowned queen of the ball. She started her own hair design company, MJB Hairstyles, when she was in the eighth grade and hopes to develop her own line of hair products to be used and sold in the nationwide chain of salons that she plans to open. Her escort was William Holt.

Chenai DeBerry, daughter of Robert DeBerry and Cathleen DeBerry and a graduate of Montbello High School. Chenai was named duchess in the queen’s court. Chenai served as president of the Sigma Gamma Rho Rhoer Club and plans to major in computer science at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Her escort was Walter Murray.

Aujunay Domingo, daughter of Marchia “Kisha” Garvin and a graduate of Eaglecrest High School. Aujunay’s high school activities included student council, the performing arts and track. She will attend Colorado State University on an academic scholarship, taking courses that will prepare her for a career as a veterinarian or marine biologist. Her escort was Tyler Burrell.

Kenniese Shayla Franklin is the daughter of Renee Thompson and Kenneth Franklin. She graduated from Cherokee Trail High School, where she was a two-year varsity letterman in track and was named top performer at the state level for DECA in 2010. She also received the Martin Luther King Scholarship Citizen Award at Cherokee Trail. Her escort was Spencer Whittington.

Courtnee Jackson, daughter of Andre Jackson and Pauletta Jackson and a graduate of Grandview High School. Courtnee completed 270 community service hours as a debutante, putting her No. 1 in that category. An accomplished actress, singer and dancer, Courtnee has traveled to Paris, served as president of Denver chapter of Top Teens of America and has had starring roles in several high school dramatic productions. She will major in secondary education at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs, with a specialization in math and a minor in French. Her escort was Matthew Lozano.

Shauna Pierre-Louis, daughter of Roshell Pierre-Louis and Claude Pierre-Louis and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School. Shauna was the first-place finisher in the chapter’s essay contest. A native of Denver, Shauna was cheerleading captain at TJ and a member of the varsity tennis team. She tutors elementary school children in reading and math and plans to major in communications at Savannah State University in Georgia. Her escort was William Carter.

Rayonna Purvis, daughter of T.J. Purvis and Tonie Moore and a graduate of Eaglecrest High School. Rayonna’s 3.64 grade point average earned her first place for scholastic achievement. In addition, she was named princess in the queen’s court. Rayonna’s passions are math and science, and toward that end she plans to become a biochemical engineer. She has volunteered at the Channel 9 Health Fair and at Excelsior Youth Center, and served as secretary of the National Art Honor Society chapter at Eaglecrest. Her escort was Duane McKay.

Shamika Quinnie is the daughter of Felisa Weatherall and Kenneth Quinnie. She moved to Denver from her native Oklahoma City when she was 5. A graduate of Overland High School, Shamika has been active in AVID and numerous volunteer activities. She was one of 14 nominated for the Especially Me award, and was the recipient of a $500 scholarship which she plans to use to attend a historically black college. Her escort was Dameion Wright.

Bryaunna Rice is the daughter of Bridget Harper and Dr. Mytika Robles and the god-daughter of Monroe Trotman. She is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School, where she was president of the Black Student Alliance and a mentor for STARS (Students Teaching Abstinence, Relationships and Self-Control). Bryaunna has been a Christmas holiday volunteer for the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Center and her summer plans call for starting a book club for elementary and middle school children. She is the recipient of a Denver Scholarship Foundation grant and plans to attend Colorado State University Pueblo. Her escort was Joseph Blessett.

Brittany Thorne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Averell Thorne and a graduate of Denver School of the Arts. Brittany, a violinist, won the Talent Award. In addition to her music, Brittany is interested in engineering and hopes to decide between the two after enrolling at the University of Northern Colorado. Learning more about etiquette and performing community service were two of her favorite parts about being a debutante. “I think it is important that people in the comunity see young people who are willing to give their time and effort,” she says. Brittany’s escort was DaVaughn Alexander.

Nicole Tuck, daughter of Michael Tuck and Denine Tuck, a graduate of East High School. Nicole was named Debutante of the Year. A native of Petersburg, Va., Nicole spent the first three years of her life in Frankfurt, Germany, moving back to the United States with her family in 1996. She has modeled with Black Pearl Entertainment and volunteered with AmeriCorps. In addition, she spent seven weeks in a summer science research apprentice program at the University of Wyoming, where she helped a graduate student write a paper and develop an experiment. Her escort was Khari Robinson.

This look like a horse arena to you? The National Western Events Center is aglow for Denver Health's NightShine Gala. (Steve Peterson, Special to The Denver Post)

Editor’s Note: It’s no easy feat to give a cavernous horse arena an intimate feel, creating a dreamy fantasyland fit for 1,600 civic and social leaders who’ve paid top dollar to be there and are expecting the very best. But that’s what a team from Bouquets did for NightShine, the annual Denver Health Gala — and it makes for an interesting story. So today we’re turning this space over to co-owner Guenther Vogt for a behind-the-scenes account of what it takes to execute a project of this magnitude. You can also read more about the event chaired by former Mayor Wellington Webb, with entertainment by Lionel Richie, in Joanne Davidson’sInside Line column.

For many years, my partner, BJ Dyer, and I have been wanting to use giant weather balloons as a decor element at a large space such as the National Western Events Center. That theme doesn’t really work with Western Fantasy, the Volunteers of America fundraiser that we have been fortunate enough to decorate for the past several years, and when we suggested the balloons for NightShine last year, the committee voted for chandeliers and fabric, instead.

This year, the event director, Candice Jones, approved it, and we quickly moved forward with a celestial theme centering around the orb. Here is the day-to-day timeline of how the decor plans came together:

On the Monday immediately preceding the May 7 event, after months of planning, the Bouquets team began inflating over five dozen weather balloons that ranged in size from 3 feet to 18 feet in diameter, while MultiMedia installed rigging points to hoist the lighting and black curtain backdrop beams.

On Tuesday, except for carpet layers, Bouquets had the entire space to ourselves. We took down the classic ceiling streamers and began installing the balloons from the arena’s roof trusses; once they were illuminated, they would serve as the dining room “ceiling” for the dinner that Epicurean Catering would serve to 1,600 people seated on the arena floor. Read more…

Twenty adorable second-graders will be presented as Nutcracker Sugarplums this week; first, on Friday night at a black-tie dinner-dance held at the Brown Palace Hotel, and again on Saturday just before the curtain rises for the opening performance of Colorado Ballet’s production of “The Nutcracker.”

The ball, chaired by Katrina Benes and Shannon Burke, is for family, friends and members of the sponsoring Colorado Ballet Auxiliary. Saturday night’s performance at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House is open to the public with tickets available at coloradoballet.org.

Cathleen Hancock and Jenifer Vogelpohl are the Sugarplum program chairs; Cami Cooper and Joan Lazzell are co-presidents of the ballet auxiliary, and Dr. Toby Cole is the master of ceremonies for both presentations.

Study after study has shown that when it comes to charitable fundraisers, Denver has more per capita than any comparably sized city in the nation. Joanne Davidson has been covering them for The Denver Post since 1985, coming here from her native California where she'd spent the previous seven years as San Francisco bureau chief for U.S. News & World Report magazine.